The Chelsea team dominated Southampton 5-1 at St. Mary's Stadium with strength and adaptability in a match marked by decisive moments, efficiency in offense, and tactical dominance. This victory launched the Blues to second place in the Premier League, reaffirming the potential of Enzo Maresca's squad.
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Chelsea controls the game after a shaky start
The match started with Southampton pressing well and putting energy into Chelsea's defense; Axel Disasi was able to open the score in the 7th minute by headed goal inside the well-placed corner courtesy of Enzo Fernández. Joe Aribo equalized fast after catching Chelsea's backline in a moment of disarray.
With time, Chelsea settled into their rhythm and started exploiting gaps in Southampton's defense. In the 15-minute mark, Christopher Nkunku punished a goalkeeper error with an icy-cold slot into an open net as Chelsea restored their lead. The French forward was in top form to show his trademark precision and coolness for goal number 12 of the season.
Madueke extends the lead
Still in the first half, Noni Madueke furthered Chelsea's lead with a goal of technical brilliance. Off a slick combination play started by Cole Palmer, Madueke shifted past the defense, to his left foot, and put a shot into the far corner. Just 34 minutes in, this third goal demonstrated Chelsea's offensive firepower.
Stephens' red card changes the game
One of the most pivotal moments of the match came late in the first half when Jack Stephens was given a straight red card after pulling Marc Cucurella's hair. The VAR-reviewed decision left Southampton with 10 men, tilting the balance decisively in Chelsea's favor for the second half.
Palmer and Sancho seal the deal
In the second half, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho completed the scoring for Chelsea. Palmer was opportunistic, tapping home after Fernández and Nkunku combined to create the chance. Sancho followed with a powerful strike, capping the night with a clinical finish from inside the box.
Maresca's reflections
After the match, Enzo Maresca was quick to balance Chelsea's output and noted the areas the team needed to improve. "I'm very happy with the five goals we scored. I'm not happy with the first 15 to 20 minutes when we struggled. We struggled because we prepared to play man-to-man , and we didn't press man-to-man in the first 15 to 20 minutes.
If you don't go man-to-man against this team, you struggle to recover the ball. After that, we adjusted, and the game became much better. It changed completely. It was a good game from everyone. Sometimes, when playing against 10 men, you slow the game down and keep possession, but we created so many chances. We could've scored more, but five goals are enough.
Maresca added his praise for the supporters, who sang their hearts out throughout the match as Chelsea put on a show of dominance. "It felt really good , especially because you can see they're happy. That's our goal. We work every day to make them happy. Tonight was a very good feeling, especially when they say, 'Chelsea is back.' That's important. Results help a lot and quiet the noise around the club. It's nice to see the fans happy after two years, in which so many things happened. You can see now that their feelings are good.